Disc Brakes; Yay or Nay?
08-13-18, 09:01 PM
#1
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Disc Brakes; Yay or Nay?
Hello Folks.... First post here. My terminology may be amiss so cut me some slack.
I hope to purchase a road bike in the spring of '19. I've narrowed it down to a Cannondale Synapse Tiagra or a Scott Speedster 20.
On the Scott at Lim Bicycles I can get the Speedster with Disc Brakes for $825. Without the Disk Brakes it's $660.
Fact is I don't ride in inclement weather. Sure, anyone can get caught in a shower or downpour but honestly it rarely happens. That said, are Disk Brakes the ultimate end all for a fair weather rider such as myself. Are Clamp style breaks on the outs.?? Is it worth the increase in cost on the Scott mentioned above.??
I hope to purchase a road bike in the spring of '19. I've narrowed it down to a Cannondale Synapse Tiagra or a Scott Speedster 20.
On the Scott at Lim Bicycles I can get the Speedster with Disc Brakes for $825. Without the Disk Brakes it's $660.
Fact is I don't ride in inclement weather. Sure, anyone can get caught in a shower or downpour but honestly it rarely happens. That said, are Disk Brakes the ultimate end all for a fair weather rider such as myself. Are Clamp style breaks on the outs.?? Is it worth the increase in cost on the Scott mentioned above.??
08-13-18, 09:08 PM
#2
Senior Member
Knowing nothing about those bikes and their brakes, I doubt very much you would see any significant difference between rim brakes and disc brakes on those bikes, in dry weather.
08-13-18, 09:11 PM
#3
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Thanks Spider. That's my thinking as well.
08-13-18, 09:17 PM
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No, discs or not will not make much difference in your enjoyment of the bikes.
08-14-18, 06:29 AM
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Though it's a bit off topic, if you can manage it, I'd consider getting a new bike going into winter, rather than into the spring riding season. Bike vendors will probably be offering some deals going in to the cold off-season, that they might not going into spring.
Also, I concur with the above posts, if you're not anticipating riding in any wet conditions, caliper brakes are just fine, and cheaper.
Also, I concur with the above posts, if you're not anticipating riding in any wet conditions, caliper brakes are just fine, and cheaper.
08-14-18, 06:30 AM
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I purposely chose discs for my everyday commuter bike. For you, no. Rim brakes will be fine.
08-14-18, 06:31 AM
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08-14-18, 07:40 AM
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Save the money.
08-14-18, 07:54 AM
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Yes.
If we look at the latest collection of 2018 road bikes, the trend of disc brakes is seemingly an irreversible one
https://www.mantel.com/blog/en/road-bike-disc-brakes/
We are going to stop selling full rim-brake road bikes, and will only sell them as framesets,” says Specialized PR spokesman Sean Estes.
Shimano does not publicly share sales numbers, but road product manager Dave Lawrence says disc brakes are certainly overtaking rim brakes this year.“It is across the board, not just high- or low-end bikes or groups,” Lawrence says. “It really ramped up in the second half of 2017, both OE [meaning original equipment sold to bike brands] and aftermarket. We have not been able to meet demand for Dura-Ace and Ultegra hydraulics. There is a good chance we will see disc eclipse rim brake in total sales in 2018.”
https://www.bikeradar.com/us/road/ge...g-point-51685/
Walk into any bike shop or roll out on any group ride and you’ll see that disc brakes are making serious gains in road bikes. The reasons are seemingly clear: disc brakes offer more controlled, consistent braking in variable weather conditions and open the door to wider tire options than traditional rim brakes.
https://www.bikeradar.com/us/road/ge...g-point-51685/
If we look at the latest collection of 2018 road bikes, the trend of disc brakes is seemingly an irreversible one
https://www.mantel.com/blog/en/road-bike-disc-brakes/
We are going to stop selling full rim-brake road bikes, and will only sell them as framesets,” says Specialized PR spokesman Sean Estes.
Shimano does not publicly share sales numbers, but road product manager Dave Lawrence says disc brakes are certainly overtaking rim brakes this year.“It is across the board, not just high- or low-end bikes or groups,” Lawrence says. “It really ramped up in the second half of 2017, both OE [meaning original equipment sold to bike brands] and aftermarket. We have not been able to meet demand for Dura-Ace and Ultegra hydraulics. There is a good chance we will see disc eclipse rim brake in total sales in 2018.”
https://www.bikeradar.com/us/road/ge...g-point-51685/
Walk into any bike shop or roll out on any group ride and you’ll see that disc brakes are making serious gains in road bikes. The reasons are seemingly clear: disc brakes offer more controlled, consistent braking in variable weather conditions and open the door to wider tire options than traditional rim brakes.
https://www.bikeradar.com/us/road/ge...g-point-51685/
Last edited by prj71; 08-14-18 at 08:01 AM.
08-14-18, 07:57 AM
#11
Non omnino gravis
Rim brake for sure. The Speedster 20 isn't a featherweight as it is, and the disc model weighs 1.75lbs more.
I've also never met a Tektro caliper I've liked, so you can easily put some of that money saved toward some decent dual-pivot brakes.
...and some better tires. The Lugano is the highest rolling resistance road bike tire ever tested over at BicycleRollingResistance.com
I've also never met a Tektro caliper I've liked, so you can easily put some of that money saved toward some decent dual-pivot brakes.
...and some better tires. The Lugano is the highest rolling resistance road bike tire ever tested over at BicycleRollingResistance.com
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08-14-18, 07:58 AM
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Just purchased a New Albion Homebrew frame to replace my 1980 Schwinn voyageur frame which is showing signs of cracking around the headtube. I thought about a disc brake compatible frame but I opted for a rim brake frame so I could just transfer over the components off my voyageur and not spend a bunch of extra cash. I do see advantages of disc brakes- ie better stopping in wet weather and no wear on rim surface. If I was to buy a new complete bike, I would probably opt for disc brakes.
08-14-18, 08:17 AM
#13
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you stay off the bike except when it's nice out, ? yea rim brakes will be OK,
dual pivot with Kool Stop Pads is on my Brompton,
Road ?, mine is C&V, Still bought KS pads for those brakes..
Out of 8, 1 Drum brake, 1 Disc brake , the other 6 are rim brake..
(so 'Hung Jury' no unanimous vote )
...
dual pivot with Kool Stop Pads is on my Brompton,
Road ?, mine is C&V, Still bought KS pads for those brakes..
Out of 8, 1 Drum brake, 1 Disc brake , the other 6 are rim brake..
(so 'Hung Jury' no unanimous vote )
...
Last edited by fietsbob; 08-19-18 at 12:03 PM.
08-14-18, 11:23 AM
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My bike has hydraulic disc brakes and I love them for the simple reason that it takes much less lever pressure to brake with. I am getting arthritis in my hands and the lesser pressure feels much better. In dry conditions, properly adjusted good quality rim brakes will work just fine.
08-14-18, 11:29 AM
#15
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Thread Starter
Thanks everyone. Lots of good replies here.
DrIsotope ... Thanks for that information. I'll consider that as I look around.
DrIsotope ... Thanks for that information. I'll consider that as I look around.
08-14-18, 11:39 AM
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Rim brake for sure. The Speedster 20 isn't a featherweight as it is, and the disc model weighs 1.75lbs more.
I've also never met a Tektro caliper I've liked, so you can easily put some of that money saved toward some decent dual-pivot brakes.
...and some better tires. The Lugano is the highest rolling resistance road bike tire ever tested over at BicycleRollingResistance.com
I've also never met a Tektro caliper I've liked, so you can easily put some of that money saved toward some decent dual-pivot brakes.
...and some better tires. The Lugano is the highest rolling resistance road bike tire ever tested over at BicycleRollingResistance.com
Unless you're planning to ride in mud or do crazy long mountain descents, rim brakes should serve you just fine.
08-14-18, 11:44 AM
#17
Banned
Not common on US bikes , but German Magura makes Hydraulic Rim Brakes..
with straight bar brake lever masters, ..
with straight bar brake lever masters, ..
08-14-18, 01:46 PM
#18
Senior Member
Won't wear out the rims, most bike are headed in that direction anyway.
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08-14-18, 02:03 PM
#19
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I think that the trend is towards CF rims (no revelation there, its' a "duh" statement) and carbon rims are inferior to Al in rim braking. So this nudges the trend toward disc brakes.
08-14-18, 02:09 PM
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I don’t think I’d buy a new bike without hydraulic disc brakes. They just seem to be more efficient and effective. My experience is that they stop more quickly than either rim brakes or mechanical discs. My main ride has hydraulic discs and my secondary ride (a C-V ride) has high end dual pivot rim brakes. I’d say the rim brakes are about 75% as effective as the discs.
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08-14-18, 02:15 PM
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08-14-18, 02:18 PM
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On a bike in that price range I wouldn't really care.
On a new modern bike with a higher budget, disc without a doubt.
On a new modern bike with a higher budget, disc without a doubt.
08-14-18, 02:47 PM
#24
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As one of the mechanics at my LBS says, "There's no such thing as a completely true rotor right out of the box. Some are just less bent."
A few minutes with a tool (or in my case, a crescent wrench) and they run nice and true.
A few minutes with a tool (or in my case, a crescent wrench) and they run nice and true.
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08-14-18, 03:21 PM
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I have disc brakes on my touring and commuting/winter bikes but I'm very happy with rim brakes on my road bike (which I don't take out in nasty weather).
If you are not riding in inclement weather, there is no real advantage to discs that I can see.
If you are not riding in inclement weather, there is no real advantage to discs that I can see.
